Popular music

Popular music

Christopher Polk, Getty Images for Clear Channel

And finally, some bands with local ties made major strides forward in 2013:

Baltimore rock scene veterans J. Roddy Walston and the Business (pictured) played "The Late Show with David Letterman" last month, and the band's song, "Use Your Language" was featured on the series finale of HBO's "Eastbound & Down." Baltimore-born R&B singer Mario racked up national airtime, courtesy of his single, "Somebody Else," which features rapper Nicki Minaj. And the debut album released in May by the pop synth duo Dungeonesse was just named the 15th-best pop album of the year by the influential SPIN magazine.

And finally, some bands with local ties made major strides forward in 2013:

Baltimore rock scene veterans J. Roddy Walston and the Business (pictured) played "The Late Show with David Letterman" last month, and the band's song, "Use Your Language" was featured on the series finale of HBO's "Eastbound & Down." Baltimore-born R&B singer Mario racked up national airtime, courtesy of his single, "Somebody Else," which features rapper Nicki Minaj. And the debut album released in May by the pop synth duo Dungeonesse was just named the 15th-best pop album of the year by the influential SPIN magazine.

(Christopher Polk, Getty Images for Clear Channel)

And finally, some bands with local ties made major strides forward in 2013:

Baltimore rock scene veterans J. Roddy Walston and the Business (pictured) played "The Late Show with David Letterman" last month, and the band's song, "Use Your Language" was featured on the series finale of HBO's "Eastbound & Down." Baltimore-born R&B singer Mario racked up national airtime, courtesy of his single, "Somebody Else," which features rapper Nicki Minaj. And the debut album released in May by the pop synth duo Dungeonesse was just named the 15th-best pop album of the year by the influential SPIN magazine.